Ilia II (1933–2026): Mourners flock to Sioni Cathedral in tribute

Leaders of the United Arab Emirates have expressed their deepest sympathies to the President and Prime Minister of Georgia following the passing of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.“The President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a letter of condolence to the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, mourning the loss of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.His Highness, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, along with His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President, Vice-Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages of sympathy to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze,” the Arab media reported.Following the death of His Holiness and Beatitude, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, on March 17, numerous diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia, as well as representatives of various religious confessions, have offered their heartfelt condolences, recognising his profound spiritual leadership and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II passed away on March 17 at the age of 93.

His Holiness Metropolitan Shio (Mujiri) of Senaki and Chkhorotsku received a delegation from the Romanian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchate on March 23. The delegation included Archbishop Ioane of Timişoara and Metropolitan of Banat, Secretary of the Holy Synod, Chorbishop Varlaam of Ploieşti, and Archdeacon Nicolae.According to the Public Relations Service of the Patriarchate of Georgia, the meeting was attended by the Choir Bishop of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Metropolitan of Akhaltsikhe and Tao-Klarjeti, Theodor (Chuadze); Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi, Grigoli (Berbichashvili); Metropolitan of Zugdidi and Tsaishi, Gerasime (Sharashenidze); Metropolitan of Gori and Athens, Andria (Gvazava); Metropolitan of Alaverdi, David (Makharadze); Secretary of the Catholicos-Patriarch, Archpriest Mikael Botkoveli; Head of the Patriarchate’s Public Relations Service, Archpriest Andria Jagmaidze; and other distinguished persons.The delegates conveyed their condolences to Metropolitan Shio, the members of the Holy Synod, and the Orthodox Church of Georgia on the passing of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II.“Metropolitan Shio expressed gratitude to the guests for their fraternal support. During the meeting, the large attendance at the funeral of the Catholicos-Patriarch was discussed, with special mention of the enduring legacy of Saint Anthimos of Iveria, which continues to unite our churches. At the conclusion of the meeting, symbolic gifts were exchanged,” the statement from the Georgian Orthodox Church reads.

On the ninth day of the death of Ilia II, and in connection with the restoration of the Georgian Orthodox Church’s autocephaly, a church service will be held at Sioni Cathedral. According to the Patriarchate, the service will begin at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, March 25.“On Wednesday, March 25, the ninth day will be marked since the death of His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II. As you know, March 25 is also the day of the restoration of the autocephaly of the Georgian Orthodox Church.In this regard, in the Sioni Cathedral, the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, together with hierarchs and clergy, will celebrate a divine service and a funeral service for the repose of the soul of His Holiness Ilia II. The service will begin at 2:00 PM,” the Patriarchate said.

“The love of Ilia II will be eternal. Not only have you lost your spiritual father, but we have also lost a great leader of the Orthodox Church. Not only Georgia, but the entire Orthodox world is now orphaned. However, we are confident that he is now a guardian angel for everyone,” said the representative of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Tamassos.Metropolitan Isaiah once again expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Georgia on the passing of Ilia II.“Yesterday, we arrived in the holy city of Tbilisi from Cyprus, representing the Orthodox Church of Cyprus alongside Archbishop Georgios. I am Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamasos and Paphos. I had the privilege of knowing His Holiness Patriarch Ilia II personally, and he was like a second spiritual father to me. Our relationship with Georgia dates back to the 1990s, when we served here on various humanitarian missions with the blessing of His Holiness. Ilia II always cared deeply for his people and was constantly thinking of their well-being. During the 1990s, the Patriarch visited Cyprus, marking the beginning of closer cooperation between our countries and churches. I have served as a kind of mediator in these relations ever since. For us, His Holiness Patriarch Ilia is now perceived as a guardian angel. Not only have you lost your holy, spiritual father, but we have also lost a towering figure of the Orthodox Church, our Primate. The entire Orthodox world is now orphaned. Yet, we are certain that, as a saint, he now watches over us all as a guardian angel. We have not truly lost a person; we have gained a celestial protector.Today, our world faces significant challenges, wars, divisions, and difficulties both within the Orthodox community and globally. His prayers are more needed than ever. I believe he chose the most difficult moment to ascend to heaven, so he might be closer to the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, and continue to intercede for us through his prayers.On behalf of Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus and our Synod, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Georgia. I assure you that the love and spiritual legacy of our Patriarch, Ilia II, will remain eternal. Thanks to his love and prayers, the bonds between our churches will endure forever,” concluded Metropolitan Isaiah.

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, was laid to rest in the Sioni Cathedral.The funeral ceremony began in the Holy Trinity Cathedral early in the morning, with the service starting at 09:00 a.m. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome, together with the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, and members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Church, performed the burial service.Following the service, addresses were delivered by the Ecumenical Patriarch, the President of Georgia, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream. Representatives of various confessions, the diplomatic corps, and delegations from multiple countries also attended the ceremony.After the service, a funeral procession was held from the Trinity Cathedral to the Sioni Cathedral. From the moment of his repose in the Sioni Cathedral until the burial, funeral bells rang in all active churches across Georgia.The 141st Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II,  passed away on March 17 at the age of 93.